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Gemalto providing cards for Lithuanian ID

Date: 16/04/2009

Gemalto announced it is delivering 900,000 of its Sealys Laser-Secured electronic identification cards to the Ministry of Interior of Lithuania.

The card features contactless technology, which stores a fingerprint biometrics, for identity verification at border crossings. It also embeds a contact microprocessor that contains a certificate for online identification and a certificate for electronically signing official documents such as contracts and declarations. Gemalto delivers the cards to its local partner Lodvila, a security printing company in Lithuania and prime contractor on the project.

The Gemalto e-ID card is made of polycarbonate, with all personal data laser-engraved in the card. The national ID card is mandatory for all citizens above 16 and also serves as a travel document in all European Union countries. National rollout started on January 5.

Lithuania determined to deploy this national ID card in order to allow citizens to travel freely between EU member states, as well as to benefit from national and European e-government services. With this e-ID card, Lithuania has taken the first step towards the implementation of the European Citizen Card standard.